Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury has said the government is prepared to bring back Bangladeshi expatriates from conflict-affected regions if the situation deteriorates further.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday afternoon after visiting the grave of former finance and planning minister M Saifur Rahman, the minister said the government is maintaining constant communication to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi expatriates living in conflict-prone areas.

He said that under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, a committee has been formed comprising representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates` Welfare and Overseas Employment and Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to monitor the overall situation.

The minister also said a Bangladeshi from Borolekha recently died abroad and the government is in contact with his family. Arrangements will be made to bring the body back to Bangladesh once the necessary permission is obtained in accordance with the regulations of the concerned country.

He added that another Bangladeshi from Sylhet has also died and similar steps are being taken to repatriate the body following the required procedures.

According to the minister, the situation in the region remains uncertain and the government is maintaining regular contact with expatriates there. Many Bangladeshis have reportedly lost their jobs and several offices and institutions have been closed. The government is continuing efforts to ensure that they have access to food and other basic necessities.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the government has made overall preparations to repatriate expatriates if the situation worsens further.

However, he noted that immediate evacuation is not possible at the moment as air routes to the region remain closed. Necessary decisions will be taken depending on how the situation evolves if it returns to normal or if the conflict continues.

Regarding the payment of workers’ wages and allowances ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, the minister said six monitoring teams led by joint secretaries have been formed to oversee the matter. The teams will visit different industrial areas and hold meetings with factory owners to ensure that workers receive their wages, bonuses, and other dues.

Earlier in the day, the minister visited the grave of M Saifur Rahman in Baharmardan of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila and offered prayers.

Later, he arrived at the district circuit house where he was received by M Naser Rahman, Member of Parliament for Moulvibazar-3 and member of national executive committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with District Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Billal Hossain.

The minister later joined a brief meeting with administrative officials before visiting the grave and offering prayers in the afternoon.